Ohio Chiropractor Works (and Food Fights) With Clay

An interesting read about a doctor who has worked with Clay.

Local chiropractor sees 'stars'
Dr. Paul Valenti offers his services at concerts

By KRISTI LOWE
Staff Writer

MATTHEW LEASURE/Tribune

COSHOCTON - Coshocton residents may be just starting to recognize him, but the celebrities love to see his face.

Chiropractor Dr. Paul D. Valenti has been in his career for 12 years, but just moved to Coshocton in April. He has an office on Chestnut Street just as you enter town.

While working in Columbus three years ago, he received a call from a friend who is a massage therapist. One of her friends from New York was starting a business of massage therapy and chiropractic care to go to venues, mostly around Ohio, and treat the visiting artists and groups. He was asked to join the team.

Celebrities can request to have them in their hotels, backstage, anywhere.

"The artists are always pretty nice," Valenti said.

One of the first concerts Valenti attended was with the group Nickelback. They have spread the word and told other artists about Valenti's work.

Over time he has worked on tours of artists such as Metallica, Aerosmith, Jay-Z, Nelly, Shania Twain, the Eagles, Foreigner, and many more.

"I grew up with the Eagles and Foreigner. I was always a fan," Valenti said.

Valenti takes his portable table and equipment to all the shows.

He also works a lot with the road crews and bus drivers. For a Destiny's Child tour, he offered service for 10 to 12 roadies.This weekend, Aerosmith is performing in Columbus, and Valenti will be backstage working.

Every year when the American Idol tour comes to Ohio, he works on them as well.

People need chiropractors from jumping around, carrying equipment or even falling off stage, Valenti said.

One of the American Idol contestants fell off the stage during a performance and wrecked his back. Valenti spent a lot of time with the contestant working out the kinks.

Valenti has also spent a lot of time with Idol Clay Aiken. Working with the stars is not always work. Once Valenti and Aiken had a food fight and wore lemon meringue for half of the night.

Most of the artists are pretty quiet and don't say much until they are on stage, Valenti said. He also added sometimes the managers are very protective.

"They stay pretty low key, no pictures or autographs," Valenti said of the tours.

Once when he was at an Usher concert a man showed up with a camera and he was gone in seconds. In other hip hop acts, such as R. Kelly, there are about a dozen huge football-like guys around him at all times.

"There's a lot of security around, sometimes there are metal detectors backstage," Valenti said.

Valenti keeps all of the passes from his concerts in a photo album so he can remember all the fun/crazy times.

"You see some strange sights," Valenti said of the Ozzfest tour.

After a Bad Company concert, he had to stay after and give treatment to the guys of the band. He got to hang out backstage with them, just as he did with Motley Crue.

"It gets pretty crazy backstage," Valenti said.

He mentioned that some of the artists can be very uptight as well.

During the Bruce Springsteen tour there could be only two people in a hallway at a time. For Springsteen to go on stage, it has to be a certain temperature or he won't perform.

"The majority are very nice to work with though," Valenti said.

Valenti charges the same rates to the stars as he does his regular customers. The only reason he would charge a little more is if he has to drive a long distance.

klowe@nncogannett.com

295-3437

Originally published November 19, 2005